A corpora



April 17, 1928.

R. L. SKINNER ET AL SLEEVE TYPE OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE LUBRICATION Filed Sent. 13. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1928.

1,666,184 R. L. SKINNER ET AL SLEEVE TYPE OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE LUBRIGATION Fil n 13. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

. f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. To'sxmnnn AUTOMOTIVE evice 00.,

TION or CALIFORNIA.

INC., on DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A cannons SLEEVE TYPE OFINTERNAL-COMBUSTICN-ENGINE LUBEICA'IION.

Application filed September 13, 1926. Serial No. 185,046.

This invention relates more particularly to the lubrication of the sleeve or sleeves of the Knight or other sleeve styles of englnes,

especially the upper portions of such movable sleeves, and in such a way as to assure adequate ()ll applicatlon, but without undue consumption. of Oll.

in one form of the invention, oil or oily vapor is fed into the sealing-head co1npart. menls of the engine and the admitted .011, or a part of it, flows down the sleeves, pref-.

erably in channels provided in their surfaces for that purpose, and the excess 011 IS withdrawn through ports below and adyacent to the inlet ports of the engine.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated 1n the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, and throughout the several views of which like reference numerals have been employed to designate the same parts, the construction is such that a continuous suction is applied to the sleeve grooves or channels'referred to, and an intermittent suction, through a. properly-metered port or hole, is applied to an oil-collecting channel of the piston, whereby its contents are withdrawn interruptedly, the abstracted oil from both sources passing through a rectifier, in which it is purified, thereclaimed oil being deliv cred back to the oil-supply of the engine, while the air, gases and vapors go into the engine, through the intakennanifold, Where they are consumed with the gaseous fuel. In these drawings Fig. 1 is avertical" section through one cylinder of a sleeveprinciple, internal-coinbustion engine, showing one cylinder only thereof and'the associated oil-rectifierg Fig. 2 is, an enlarged, fragmentary. vertical section illustrating portions of the engine-cylinder, the sleeves and the piston;

Fig. 3,is a. fragmentary elevation of the inner sleeve;

Fig. 4 is a similar vicwof the outer sleeve; and r Fig. 5 shows, partly in section and partly in elevation, a slightly-modified construction of a portion of the appliance.

Looking at. the drawings, especially Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, it will beobserved that, in this instance, which shows only one cylinder of amulti-cylinder engine, the'structure includes such cylinder 11, the outer, recipro catory sleeve 12,.thecompanion, inner, sliding sleeve 13, the piston 14, the associated connecting-r0d 15, the usual intake-manifold 16, the corresponding admission or inlet port 17, the correlated exhaust-port. 18,

the connected exhaust-manitold l9, and the oil rectifier 21 of known construction, the cylinder, sleeves and piston being supplied with lul'iricant, as by the splashor other known system.

As is clearly illustrated, the upper section only of the rectifier projects into a clownward extension 22 of the exhaust-1nanifold,

which is equipped with'a control valve 23, whereby such portion of theoil purifier, in which the separation or volatilization of gasifiable, contan'iinating constituents occurs,

is heated more 01 less, depending upon 'the adjustmentor position of the movable valve.

Asis customary, the reclaimed,purified oil is delivered intermittently through a discharge pipe into the engine crank-case 2 1-, where it mixes with the main oil-supply therein and is ready for re-use. 1

The interior of the rectifier is connected by a pipe 25 to the intake-manifold ofuthe engine, so that the suction in the'latter is exerted through the rectifier in the usual way.

Such rectifier or purifier is also connected by a pipe 25 to a flattened, tubular member or manifold, arranged along the sides of all of the engine-cylinders and joined to their ports 27, through the walls otthe cylinders, directly below their intakeor inlet ports 17, by hollow, securing screws 28.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that each piston 14 has an external, transverse, circumferential. oil or fluid collecting groove 29 around it, desirably, but not. necessarily, located between two of the several pistonrings 31. y 31 with which the ,piston is equipped, an air-relief port or bleeder-hole 32 extending inwardlythrough the wall of the piston and connecting at its outer end 1 with the groove or channel 29, and, 'at'its inner end with the spaceinsidefthe piston, so that such channel 29, through thisv small port, is in communication-with the upper part of the interiorlof theengine crank case. The inner sleeve 13 has the usual ,portstor the adm sslon of the explos ve mixture i ill and the discharge of the exploded gases from the cylinder. i It also has a plurality of external, transverse channels- 33, and 35, the extreme, upper-one 33 extending completely around the sleeve, the intermediate ones il -l likewise completely surrounding the sleeve, the lower ones 35 being of less length and not continuing throughout the entire circumference. An external, longitudinal. channel 36 on such inner sleeve, in register with the port- 27 and positioned between the ends of the channels 35, connects at its upper end with the't-wo; transverse grooves-2 3 i, 33 i, and at its louver end is in communication with a small, n-iete'red hole 37 through the sleeve and having: a flaring mouthGS on the inner side of the sleeve.- and with which the piston channel 29 is designed and {H'lflllQGtl to come into registm' orcommunication, interruptedly or i-nterndttently, as shown, for example, in Fig. 2.

Sin'iilarly, the outer sleeve 12, likewise having inlet and exhaust ports, has outside, transverse channels 39 extended all the way around the sleeve, and other, lower channels, w-hichmay be of the Seine length or shorter. This outer sleeve 12 also has an external, lengthwise, surface channel 42 in alignment with the cylinder port 27, its upper part connecting with the ,channels 39, its lower section being connected to the longitudinal "channel or groove 36' of the inner sleeve by a hole or port iii-of substantial size through the sleeve.

The top surface of the inner sleeve 'is con nectcd to its uppermost groove 3% by inclined or oblique surface'clninnels t l on op positc sides thereof, and, analogously, the top surface of the outer sleeve is joined to itscorresponding groove 39 by similar, slopingsurface-channcls i Obviously, from an understanding; of this "construction, it will be seen that the suction present at the cylinder port 27 is exerted inside-wall, and in order that- 'such opening 'may not be closed during the reciprocation of the correspondine. outer sleeve, the latt'er is cut away or recessed at t? (Figures 1 and 3). i

All of such ports 46 of the several enginecylinders are connected to a common, tubular manifold 48, which. in turn. is joined by a pipe 49 to the delivery pipe 20 of the rectifier, such pipe 49, at its junction with the oil-discharge pipe 20, having within it a plug with a suitably-metered, small hole 51.

The operation of the appliance occurs practically as follows, the suction present at each cylinder-port 27, by reason of the partial vacuum in the intake-manifold working through the piping and rectifier (a) interruptedly withdraws aerated. impure 01' contaminated oil from the fluid collecting groove 29 of the piston through the passages 38, 37, 36 and 43, and delivers it into the rectifier through the pipe 26; (7)) continuously removes and discharges into the rectifier through pipe 26- the accumulated polluted oil from the lower groove 39 of the the oil from these three sources after purification being returned through pipe 20 to the CIZtIlli-CELSQ,GXCGP for the small amount thus intercepted and carried to the sealinghead compartment.

Such abstraction of oil from the piston effects the well-known, advantageous results regarding the improved functioning of the engine, and the passage of the oil through the sealinghead compartment assures an mlequate, but not excessive, lubrication of the upper sections of the moving sleeves,

from which some oil, which would usually .reach them, 1s directly WltlkllftlWIt before it arrives there, by the suction existent at the cylinder port 27, below itscorresponding intake-port.

Thus the passage of-oil through the sealing-head chamber compensates for the withdrawal of oil below the intake port, such extraction of oil at the point indicated removinna certain amount which would otherwise travel all the way up the sleeves, and possibly keep them adequately lubricated, or be lost through the intake-port.

As will be readily understood, the piston air-inlet or bleeder-port 32 permits the inflow of a small amount of air which relieves the vacuum in the piston groove 29, thus facilitating the withdrawal of its contents and aerating the abstracted fiuidsor liquids in a manner well understood.

Part of the time, the passage 38, 37 through the inner sleeve is inv communication with. thefluid-collecting groove 29 of the piston, and, for a portion of the time, such passage is uncovered due to the rise ofthe Hill piston beyond it, but the shape and caliber of the passage is such that the air then flowing through it is so small as not to disturb the proper gaseous fuel mixture in the intake-manifold.

In view of the fact that the passage through the pipe 49 has the small, regulating or metered orifice 51, the amount of air entering the intake-manifold through this lubrication systemis'insuilicient to interfere with. correct carburation.

The source of oil-supply for the sealinghead compartments is largely immaterial, and such oil may be drawn from any part of: the engine lubrication-system which is qualified to afford such a supply.

In Fig. 5, a slightly-modified structure is shown, wherein the oil-supply pipe 52 for the sealing-head compartment is connected directly to the interior of: the top portion of the crank-case chamber 211-, through a plug 53 having a small, metered hole there through, which prevents an excess of air being drawn through the sealing-head compartment into the intake-manifold.

' Otherwise, this modified structure functions in much the same way as the other one, the suction drawing the oily vapor in the upper part of the crank-case into and through the compartment specified, wherein it performs its lubricating function.

Still other embodiments of the invention are possible, but it is unnecessary hereto present them, since it may be borne in mind that many minor changes may be made in the structures set forth without departure from the essence of the invention, and without the loss of any of its material benefits.

\Ve claim: r

1. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an engine-cylinder having intake and exhaust ports, sleeve means in said cylinder controlling said ports, means to move said sleeve means, a reciprocatory piston in said sleeve means, means to lubricate said cylinder, sleeve means and piston, and

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additional means to introduce lubricant into the sealing-head con'i'partment of the engine and to remove at least a part ot such lubricant atterit has passed down a portion of the length ot said slewe-n'icans.

2. In an internal-co1nbustion engine, the combination of an engine-cylinder having intake and exhaust ports, sleeve means in said cylinder controlling said ports, means to move said sleeve means, a reciprocatory pis-- ion in. said sleeve means, ii'ieans-to lulnrical'e said cylinder, sleeve means and piston, and additional means to introduce lubricant into the sealing-head compartment of the engine and to remove at least a portion of such lnbricantfrom the engine-cylinder below said sealing-head compartment.

3. In an internateombustion engine, the combination 011' an engine-cylinder having intake and exhaust ports,-sleeve means in said cylinder controlling said ports, means to move said sleeve means, a reeiprocatory piston in said sleeve means, means to lubricate said cylinder, sleeve means and piston, and additional means to introducelubricant into the sealing-head compartment of the en-. glue and to remove at leasta portion of such cylinder controlling said ports, means to move said sleeve means, a reciprocatory piston in said sleeve means, means to lubricate said cylinder, sleeve means and piston, and additional. means to introduce lubricant into the sealing-head compartment of the engine and to remove at .leasta portion of such lubricant from said sleeve means and from the engine-cylinderat a point below saidintakeport. y

5. In an internal-combustion engine, the

combination of an engine-cylinder: having intakeand exhaust ports, va reciprocatory piston in said cylinder, inner and outerchanneled sleeves in said cylinder, between said piston and cylinder, said outer sleeve having an oil port therethrough, means to.

lubricate said cylinder, piston and sleeves, means to move saidsleeves, and means to introduce lubricant into the sealingshead compartment oi the engine and to remove at least a portion of such lubricant through said sleeve-port after it has flowed down between and for a. portion of the length of said sleeves.

' 6. In an internal-combustionengine, the combination o'l an engine'cylinder having intake and exhaust ports, areciprocatory piston in said cylinder, inner and outer channeled sleeves in saidcylinder between said piston and cylinder, said outer'sleeve having an oil port therethrough, means to lubricate said cylinder, piston and sleeves, means to move said sleeves, and additional means to introduce lubricant into the sealing-head .compartment of the engine and to remove at least a portion of such lubricant through the on ne-cylinder wall from both o l said sleeves atler it has flowed down their channels for a. part of the length of the sleeves.

7. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of. an engine-cylinder having intake and exhaust ports, sleeve means in said cylinder controlling said ports, means to move said sleeve means, a reciprocatory piston in said sleeve means, means to lubricate said cylinder, sleeve means and piston, a lubricant-conduit connected to the sealinghead compartment of the engine and open to the atmosphere at least part of the time, said, sleeve means having passage means Ill) connecting said sealing-head con'ipartment with an oil-port through the cylinder-wall below the cylinder intake-port, and means connecting said cylinder oil-port with the intake-manifold of the engine, whereby the cant-conduit limiting the amount of admitted air to prevent interference with the ill engine carburation,

8. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a ported engine-cylinder, a reciprocatory piston in said cylinder, sleeve means between said piston and cylinder controllingthe ports of the latter, means to move said sleeve means, a crank-case adapted to contain lubricant, means to draw oily vapor from said crank-case into the sealinghead coi'i'ipartment of the engine and means to cause the contents ot said sealing-head compartment to flow down a portion of the length of said sleeve means.

9. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a ported engine-cylinder, a reciprocator'y piston in said cylinder, sleeve means in said cylinder controlling the ports of the latter, means to move said sleeve means, a crank-case adapted to contain lubricant, a conduithaving a constriction conncctedto the upper portion of said crankcase and to the sealing-head compartn'ient of the engine, said cylinder having an oilportthrough its side-wall below said conipartment, said sleeve means having surface channel means connecting said compartn'ientwith said cylinder oil-port, and means to apply the suction of the engine intake-manitold to said oil-port to draw oily vapor oi the cra-nk-case'into and from said compartment. 7 i

10. In an internal-combustion engine, the con'ibination of a ported engine-cylinder, a reciprocatory piston in said cylinder, sleeve means in said cylinder controlling the ports of the latter, means to move said sleeve means, a crankcase adapted to contain lubricant, a conduit connected to said crankcase and to the sealing-heijid compartment ot the engine, said cylinder having an oilport through its side-wall below said compartn'ient, said sleeve means having surface channel means connecting said compartment with said cylinder oil-port, and means to apply the suction of the engine intake-maniitold to said oil-port to draw oily vapor oi" the crank-case into and from said compartment.

11. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a ported engine-cylinder, a reciprocatory piston in said cylinder having a lubricant-collecting channel, sleeve means controlling the ports of said cylinder be tween the latter and said piston, means to move said sleeve means,rnieans to lubricate said cylinder, piston and sleeve means, means to substantially continuously remove lubricant from the sealing-head (ZOll'lPtlltDleHl) of the engine, and means to intermittently renove lubricant from said piston channel.

152. In an llltQll]ill-COHllOHSiIlOD engine, the combination of a ported engine-cylinder, a reciprocatory piston in said cylinder having a lubricant-collecting channel, sleeve means controlling the ports of said cylinder between the latter and said piston, means to move said sleeve means, means to lubricate said cylinder, piston and. sleeve means, means to substantially continuously remove lubricant from the sealing-head compart mentof the engine through a port through the side-wall ot the engine-cylinder, and means to intermittently lQll'lOVQ lubricant from said piston channel through thesame port.

13. in an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a ported engine-cylinder, a reciprocatory piston in said cylinder having a lubricant-collecting channel, sleeve means between said piston and cylinder controlling the ports of the latter, means to move said sleeve means, means to lubricate said cylinder, piston and sleeve means, said cylinder having an oihport, said sleeve means hav ing a conduit with a constriction connected to said oil-port and with which'said pistonchannel intermittently registers, a lubricant con'duit having a constriction connected to thesealing-head coi'i'ipartment of the engine and open to the atmosphere at least part of the time, said sleeve means having passage means connecting said compartment with said oil-port, and means connecting said oil-port with the intake-manifold of the engine.

In witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

RALPH L. SKINNER. EDMOND H. LAIrIBERT.

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